GB2457458A - Covering device for a handle - Google Patents

Abstract

A covering device for a handle comprises a base layer 1, which preferably acts as an energy-dissipating, pressure-spreading layer, and a relatively softer skin contacting layer 2, which envelops and is removable from the base layer 1. At least one of the base layer 1 and the skin contacting layer 2 is provided as a continuous or discontinuous cylinder. The device is for attachment to handles or handholds 3 of articles 4 to afford protection of the skin 5, and where there will be repeated compression between the skin and the handle during use. The article 4 is preferably a crutch, but a wide variety of other articles are also referred to (e.g. hand tools, handlebars, sports equipment). The base layer 1 has a thickness of at least 5mm, has a Shore A hardness below 50 degrees, and is reversibly compressible by at least the greater of 1mm or 10%, and not more than 80%, of its unloaded dimensions. The skin contacting layer 2 has a thickness between 0.7 and 4mm, is reversibly compressible by at least the greater of 0.3mm and 25%, and has a Fukurami softness of at least 6. Both layers 1, 2 have a Young's modulus in the range 0.5 to 10kPa.

Description

A COVERING DEVICE

This invention relates to a protective covering, to a handle or handhold in the form of a rod-like projection, that is with a free-standing end, to be gripped by a user, whether directly or whether through clothing. It is particularly for protecting the user against discomfort, skin abrasion, bruising in and below the skin, bone pain, and the development of blisters and calluses The covering device is for attachment to such a handle or a handhold, either during or after either production or retail of the article, and may be a removable device, wholly or in parts, and or provided as a kit to be attached.

In the past, various coverings for handles or handholds on articles have been provided for protecting users against discomfort. In many cases there is no need for additional protection, as the articles may only be used for short periods at a time, and in cases where repeated or continuous exertion is required of the user, the skin can naturally respond to the increased burden by strengthening or hardening. which may be acceptable to some users. Examples include sports items such as weight lifting bars and gardening equipment such as spades.

By contrast, there are common situations where such repeated and continuous exertion is suddenly required from a user, and as a result there may be insufficient time for the skin to adapt and strengthen.

Examples include prosthetic and orthotic devices such as artificial limbs and limb supports.

A particular example is the use of crutches following injury, illness or medical intervention In such cases the continuous atypical burden suddenly placed on a patient's hands is great enough that the skin may be damaged.

In addition, the skin and flesh of some users, including the elderly or frail, will not be able to respond satisfactorily to even moderate periods of exposure to the discomfort of handles or handholds on articles.

As mentioned above, one of the most common orthotic supports is the crutch, with two popular types being the Underarm Crutch (common in the US), and the Forearm Crutch (common in Europe).

Both of these types require the user to grasp a handle or handhold to support themselves and control the crutch, with the forces being applied predominantly through the underarm or through the hand, respectively.. In the case of temporary disability, this suddenly places a considerable and sustained burden on the skin and flesh of the user's underarm or hand.

It is for particularly these cases, and also for persons with arthritic or musculoskeletal disorders, or the elderly or frail, that the documented solutions (and certainly those on the market), especially for the Forearm Crutch, are highly inadequate to the needs of patients. The applicants researched the effects of temporary crutch use and found that the majority of patients using the Forearm Crutch had severe irritation to the skin on the hand after as little as one week of use, which typically included blistering, callusing and sometimes bruising of the flesh particularly at the top of the palm at the base of the fingers and the fleshy part on the palm at the base of the thumb.

Known solutions can be divided into categories including: -solid rubber or plastic provided with a smooth surface, -Foam rubber handles with better grip, -Ergonomic design of handles, and -Adhesive tape-like solutions for sports applications.

While there are many designs in the field of handles in general with a wide variety of types of covers, these are fundamentally differentiated from the solutions of interest by the purpose of their application. Examples include handles for reducing high frequency vibration (above 5Hz), for mitigating sudden impact or recoil, for increasing a user's grip, for distribution or alleviating a user's sweat and so forth. An array of features will be imagined for alleviating these and other problems.

By comparison the present application is concerned with the alleviation of repetitive and cyclical, low frequency movement (below 3Hz) either transverse to, or into, the skin of the hand. A typical movement of interest is a repeated movement into and out of the plane of the skin. However the pressure will naturally be higher at some points such as at the base joint of the fingers. The combination of this pressure and the movement of the handheld article will cause transverse movement of the skin, and associated shear forces, particularly at the top of the palm at the base of the fingers and the base of the thumb. In addition, because a user grasps around a handle or handhold, the wrist area may experience a greater tangential force.

Finally, in addition to a pressing motion, a typical user of a Forearm Crutch during perambulation ilI fractionally rotate their hand during each pressing cycle, and this also produces a small transverse motion. The transverse motions described may be slow (less than lOmm/s), and the relative motion between the skin and the article, such as a crutch. may be very slight (less than 3mm). However, under such pressure, even such slight movements challenge the tensile strength of the skin. By contrast with many other activities causing friction with the skin, this rubbing movement occurs at relatively high pressure, low speed, over very small distances, and is characterised by being repetitive or cyclical at frequencies between 0 2 and 2Hz. The repetitive action typically needs to be sustained for minutes at a time. Cumulatively this may exceed an hour a day, over at least a week, typically leading to the irritation of the skin and the development of blisters or calluses.

In the prior art regarding Forearm Crutches, the described rubbing action is mitigated by providing a smooth plastic finish on a handle or handhold, and or an ergonomic design (which minimises pressure differentials). Unfortunately such designs have proven inadequate for alleviating the repetitive shear forces resulting from redistribution of pressure across the skin.

The smooth finish solution fails because it is based on the misconception that the problem results froiii rubbing over a rough surface, and that the movement distance will typically exceed the diameter of features of a rough texture. It also has the problem that sweat makes the surface very slippery, making use more difficult and causing the user to actually increase the pressure on the flesh by squeezing to maintain grip. High grip solutions, such as solid rubber coatings, have also been proposed but they too fail because they still generate localised shear forces within the skin.

Foam rubber handles or handhold, or foam rubber covers, are known for some handle or handhold applications, but this surface offers minimal simultaneous protection against both pressure and abrasion.

It also fails in alleviating the shear forces that develop in the skin on the palm at the base of the fingers and at the base of the thumb.

With infrequent use, this may be tolerated, but regular users lind themselves needing to wear further protection, such as gloves, to avoid abrasion discomfort or damage to the palms of the hand This however limits the movement of the hand and can cause a build up of sweat during use. Even with such protection, a user may still develop bruising, calloused skin or blisters, the skin's natural defence mechanisms against pressure, repeated impact and rubbing.

The ergonomic design solution may offer some beneficial effect in reducing the pressure differentials, although the users have different sized hands, and the positioning of the hand is not fixed during use, thus reducing the efficacy. Furthermore, transverse movement of a user's hand against an ergonomically shaped handle or handhold can lead to greater pressure at points where protrusions from the handle or handhold press against the fingers -and this will occur right next to the regions where pressure differentials must be alleviated Tape-like protection, for application to handles of articles such as squash, badminton or tennis racquets, such as those described in US5374059 and US5234740, or traditional thin towelling adhesive tape. are intended to adhere round the handle, to absorb shock and aid grip However, these tape-based grips not offer effective protection against skin abrasion.

There have been patents trying to address the additional problem of skin abrasion; for example, GB2247839 describes a cushioned pad for surgical supports comprising a synthetic pile attached to a synthetic yarn which is air and water permeable. However, in using synthetic pile as the padding over the underarm support of a crutch, GB2247839 attempts to provide both the pressure, impact and rubbing protection in a single material and in doing so provides neither sufficiently.

US20060021 196 describes a handle with a tubular core and a cylindrical outer sheath, with a flexible gel between them; but the outer sheath is suggested to be constructed from vulcanised silicone, for more effective grip, so would not protect a user from physical irritation of the skin as a result of repeated rubbing in use.

US20030040384 describes a vibration absorbing grip cover for covering a handle, which is prernoulded into a sleeve: although it does disclose multiple layers to this cover, it is described as a single composite, and the outer layer is described as tacky' so as to facilitate grip, again not protecting a user from low frequency pressure variation. Similarly, US 20020119422 describes a single composite tubular sleeve with a gripping surface. Again, such covers would be deficient in protecting a user from physical irritation of the skin as a result of repeated rubbing in use Metal tubular versions of Forearm Crutches, such as those typically supplied! or prescribed by UK NHS A&E Departments and supplied under JMC Healthcare (RTM) or Cooper Health (RIM). The JMC (RTM) version has handles which are relatively rigid, and have a bulbous profile to assist a to-and-fro rocking motion of the hand, around a wide central fulcrum, while the Cooper Health (RIM) crutch has an ergonomic profile to accommodate the fingers. In use, with either crutch, the user necessarily applies considerable pressure to the handles repetitively. This pressure affects the flesh of the hand, and there is an associated rubbing action as the skin and flesh of the hand distorts and spreads out slightly from the regions with highest pressure. These regions generally match those where there is the least distance bet%'een the bones and the handle -particularly on the palm at the base of the fingers The present handle or handhold covering device combines padding with a covering layer in two novel ways: Firstly. the cover is separated into two discrete components, a pressure relieving layer providing cushioning, hereafter referred to as the base layer', and a separate layer to mitigate skin irritation, hereafler referred to as the skin contact layer', permitting removal for laundering or replacement; and Secondly, at least one component is wholly or partly tubular in construction, and both are reversibly extensible. to facilitate sequential application to a handle or handhold in the form ofa rod-like projection, that is with a free-standing end, such as the handhold of a Forearm Crutch. This ensures ease of application and avoids the risk of misalignment from fold-around devices.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a means for mitigating at least one ofdiscomfort, physical irritation and damage to the skin and underlying flesh from use of a handle, or handhold, in the form of a rod-like projection, that is with a free-standing end.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a cover, or a kit for the same, specifically for covering a skin contact area of a handle or hand hold and being for protecting a user from physical irritation of the skin as a result of at least one of repeated pressing and repeated rubbing, between a user's skin and the skin contact area, wherein; the covering device or kit for the same comprises a base layer, and a skin contact layer adapted to substantially envelop the base layer, the layers having the following properties: I) the base layer has a thickness of at least 5mm, and is of a material with a Shore A hardness below 50 degrees, and is reversibly compressible by at least the greater of I mm and 10%, and not more than 80%, of unloaded dimensions in use, 2) the skin contact layer has an unloaded thickness ofat least 0.7mm and at most 4mm, is reversibly compressible by at least the greater of 0.3mm and 25% in use, is of a softer material than the base layer, and has a Fukurami softness of at least 6, 3) both the base and skin contact layers have a Young's Modulus in the range 0.5 to lOkPa, and at least one thereof is provided as a continuous or discontinuous cylinder, and 4) the skin contact layer is adapted to be separated from the base layer.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I is an illustration ofa covering device comprising a base layer(l), a skin contact layer (2), and a handle or handhold (9) of a crutch according to an embodiment of the first aspect: Figure 2 shows a front view of the covering device of figure 1; Figure 3 shows a view of the covering device of figure I attached to the handle or handhold (9) of the crutch; Figure 4 shows a covering device of figure I; Figure 5 shows a side view of a fastening of the covering device of figure I; Figure 6 shows an assembly of the covering device of figure I; Figure 7 shows an assembled view of the covering device of figure I; Figure 8 shows a cross section of the assembled covenng device of figure I. Figure 9 shows the covering device of figure I prior to assembly; Figure 10 shows the covering device of figure I after assembly; Figure II shows the side view in cross section of the covering device of figure I, In the following description, various aspects of the present invention will be described. For purposes of explanation, specific configurations and details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will also be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. Furthermore, well-known features may be omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the present invention.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention there is provided a cover, or a kit for the same, specifically for covering a skin contact area of handle or hand hold and being for protecting a user from physical irritation of the skin as a result of at least one of repeated pressing and repeated rubbing, between a user's skin and the skin contact area, wherein; the covering device or kit for the same comprises a base layer, and a skin contact layer adapted to substantially envelop the base layer, the layers having the following properties: I) the base layer has a thickness of at least 5mm, and is of a material with a Shore A hardness below 50 degrees, and is reversibly compressible by at least the greater of I mm and 10%, and not more than 80%, of unloaded dimensions in use, 2) the skin contact layer has an unloaded thickness ofat least 0 7mm and at most 4mm, is reversibly compressible by at least the greater of 0.3mm and 25% in use, is of a softer material than the base layer, and has a Fukurami softness of at least 6, 3) both the base and skin contact layers have a Young's Modulus in the range 0.5 to l0kPa, and at least one thereof is provided as a continuous or discontinuous cylinder, and 4) the skin contact layer is adapted to be separated from the base layer.

The skin contact layer has sufficient depth (for example 0.7-3mm) and softness to distort in parallel with the distortion that occurs on small scales in the skin due to variation in skin thickness. This spreads the pressure very effectively over small distances and, because it distorts with the skin, there is much less abrasion between the skin and the cover at regions having a high pressure gradient.

The base layer has much greater depth (for example 5-30mm) and, while it deforms significantly under the grip of a user, it is strong enough to give solidity to the handle or handhold and sufficient stability for a user to support themselves by holding it. This layer spreads the pressure of the user's grip at larger scales, from the middle of the contact area to the periphery.

This offers great advantages over a single, thicker layer having an intermediate softness. Such intermediate softness would not offer the strength and support required by a user, as the whole cover would distort under the user's grip. With a single layer of greater hardness, such as if constructed of foam rubber, the cover would have the problems inherent in the prior art.

The cover as described, thus satisfies the requirements for applications where a user must repetitively press upon or grip a handle or handhold. Accordingly there is no need for a user to wear gloves or similar protection, that may be cumbersome, or become sweaty in use.

It is anticipated that the covering device may be provided separately from the handle or handhold, either as a kit for addition to a handle or handhold, or because the cover is intended to be removed partly or wholly for cleaning or replacement. Conversely the cover may be provided in place upon the handle or handhold, and whether provided separately or in situ it may be provided for permanent fixture, or adapted to be removed later. It is provided that the skin-contact layer may be removed for cleaning or replacement, in which case the base layer may be provided as, or to be, a permanent fixture.

The two layers may be supplied separately, adapted for connection to a suitable article upon one another.

It is preferable that the skin contact layer is partly or wholly tubular in construction and has one end closed to prevent it moving down the handle or handhold in use.

It is also preferable that the base layer is partly or wholly tubular in construction.

Finally in terms of their construction, the skin-contact layer may be provided to envelop partially or wholly the base layer.

Items to which the covering device may be applied include articles with handles to be held by a user Such items may be limited to rigid articles, or to relatively rigid articles, in that they are rigid enough for a user to apply controlled grip to them, and to articles where the handle or handhold is in the form of a rod-like projection, that is with a free-standing end. Thus handles such as handrails, or those attached to items at both ends, such as handgrips on Underarm Crutches, are generally not applicable.

Handles or handholds to be covered by the covering device, include, but are not limited to handles or handholds such as on: -Orthotic devices such as Forearm Crutches, -Hand tools, (such as hammers, spanners, wheel barrows), -Garden tools, (such as trowels, shears, dibbers and weeding claws), -Cordless Power tools, (such as saws, drills and sanders), -Manipulation levers orjoysticks (such as for forklift trucks, diggers and cranes), -Handholds for Garden equipment (such as wheel barrows, lawnmowers, chainsaws and hedge-trimmers), -Industrial equipment, -Vehicles, (such as gear sticks, handbrakes, rudders and handlebars for bicycles and motorbikes), and -Sports equipment such as.

-Clubs, sticks, bats, racquets or ski-poles, -Weight training equipment, -Oars and paddles.

To illustrate, but by no means limit, the scope of the invention, an example will be given of application of the covering device to the skin contact parts of crutches.

Figures I to 4 show a covering device comprising the base layer I with energy dissipation and pressure-spreading properties and sk in contact layer 2, soft enough to provide mitigation against abrasion of the skin. The device is attached over the skin contact parts 3 of the article, in this instance a handle or handhold 4, to afford protection to the skin 5 of a user.

In the instance ofa crutch hand-hold, therefore, the covering device is attached over the handholds 3, providing an underlying pad of energy dissipating material 1, covered by a layer 2 which mitigates against abrasion to the palm of the hand 5 during perambulation.

The base layer 1 is of energy dissipating material. Such material may be, but is not limited to: -high strength rubber, vulcanised natural or synthetic rubber, polyurethane or ethylene propylene rubber -high strength foam rubber (such as neoprene, latex foam rubber or polyethylene foam), -energy dissipating constructs, such as an elastomer film enclosing a highly viscous liquid, or -padding comprising a textile enclosure filled with down or fibre.

This base layer is sufficiently deformable to spread the pressure across the skin and underlying bones, joints, tissues or muscle around a localised skin contact area with the handle or handhold. To this end the Shore A hardness of the energy dissipating materials will be less than 50 degrees. Such materials are particularly effective at both pressure spreading and energy dissipation against repeated impact. In addition, it is important that the layer does not retain deformation after repeated impact, should have a compression set (reduction in thickness after repeated compression), of no greater than 35% (preferably no greater than 20%).

Where the device is applied to a notionally tubular or rod-like handle or handhold 3, the base layer may be attached, partly or wholly, around it.

Note that the handle or handhold to which the covering device may be attached may be of either a continuous, or discontinuous nature, such as produced from mesh. The term tubular or rod like' also includes thickened edges of structures (Figures 6 and 7-before and after assembly).

A tubular or rod-like handle or handhold may have a cross-section which is mostly curved, such as circular, oval, arch-shaped or ribbed, or indeed may have an angular cross section, such as a square, rectangle or trapezoid In addition, the tubular or rod like handle or handhold may be tapered or have varying thickness along its length Figure 8 illustrates an embodiment of the cover viewed from one end after construction.

To provide effective energy dissipation, in order to spread the pressure on the skin and to provide effective energy dissipation against repeated pressure, the skin contact layer I should have a thickness, at its thinnest point 6, ofno less than 0.7 mm (preferably no less than 2 mm) and no greater than 3 mm.

Furthermore, in order not to be too cumbersome the base layer should also have a thickness, at its thickest point 7, of no greater than 30 mm (preferably no greater than 20 mm), and at least 5 mm If the device is attached around a notionally tubular or rod-like handle or handhold 3, the maximum diameter of the device in cross-section 8 should be no greater than 100 mm (preferably at most 80 mm and ideally at most 60 mm).

To protect the skin, the base layer I is wholly or partly tubular, such as a tubular foam rubber section, and may be attached by simply stretching slightly and sliding the component over the tubular or rod-like part of the handle or handhold If necessary, to avoid the base layer sliding around the handle or handhold, it may be affixed niore firmly on some or all of its surface (Figs. I, 2,4, 6 and 7) using any appropriate means such as, but not limited to: -pressure-sensitive adhesive, such as double sided tape, -glue, such as latex rubber-based adhesive, or cyanoacrylate adhesive for a more permanent bond, -with higher friction continuous or discontinuous coatings. applied, for example, by painting or spraying -with latex rubber strips wrapped around the handle or handhold or -with a latex rubber tube applied in advance over the handle or handhold.

Conversely, if the base layer is attached by sliding over the handle or handhold, it may be that that lubrication is required on the outer surface 9 of the handle or handhold (Figs. I, 2,4, 6 and 7)to effect the attachment over a less slippery surface -this lubrication could include, but would not be limited to: -powders such as graphite or talcum, -pre-applied slip aids, such as sprayed film formers (for example hair spray), -liquid lubricants, such a WD-40 (RTM), silicone oil spray, or -tape wrapped round the tube with a low friction outer surface, such PTFE tape -either left in place or removed after the cover has been applied.

Alternatively (Figures 9 and 10), the base layer I may be tubular with a longitudinal split line 10, clipped over the tubular handle and then, if necessary, fastened in place by an appropriate means II. This would include the methods of attachment of the whole cover, comprising the two layers together, as described subsequently.

The skin contact layer 2, is adapted to mitigate against abrasion of the skin when subjected to movement or rubbing. It is important that this layer has sufficient grip that the skin does not readily slip over it in use Suitable materials for this layer will be intrinsically comfortable to the touch.

While providing sufficient grip to maintain the skin, such as the palm of a hand, at a fixed position relative to the surface, it must nonetheless allow some movement at smaller scales to ensure that the skin is protected from abrasion.

Parameters of suitable materials include the following: a) materials having an unloaded thickness of at least 0.7mm, preferably at least 2 mm, but no greater than 4 mm; b) materials feeling soft, springy and non-abrasive to the touch; in the measurement of fabrics, using the Kawabata system described below, this equates to a combination of properties giving a Fukurami value ofal least 6.0 (preferably above 10.0 and most suitably above 150); c) materials having a compression set, after repeated compression, such as measured with the KES-FB3 Compression Tester, described below, under a force -for example, at 0 to 50 gf/cm2 or 10 gf/cm2 for non-woven materials -of no greater than 50% of original thickness (preferably no greater than 20% of original thickness); d) materials compressible by at least 0 3 mm -such as measured with the KES-FB3 Compression lester, described below -under an applied force, for example, under 50 gf/crn2, or 10 gf/cm2 for non-woven materials; e) materials having a bending stiffness below 0.O6gf/cm2/cm width of material in at least one direction (preferably below 0.04, more suitably below 0.03, and ideally below 0.02), such as determined with the KES-FB2 Bending Tester described below, measuring the force required to bend the material approximately 150° The Kawabata System was developed by Dr. Sueo Kawabata, Professor of Polymer Chemistry at Kyoto University in Japan, as a scientific means to measure, in an objective and reproducible way, the "hand" of textile fabrics -that is the way they feel to handling. This is achieved by measuring basic mechanical properties that have been correlated with aesthetic properties relating to "hand" (e. g.

smoothness, fullness, stiffness, softness, flexibility, and crispness), using a set of four highly specialized measuring devices that were developed specifically for use with the Kawabata System. These devices are as follows. Kawabata Tensile and Shear Tester (KES FBI) Kawabata Pure Bending Tester (KES FB2) Kawabata Compression Tester (KES FB3) Kawabata Surface Tester (KES FB4) KES FBI through 3 are manufactured by the Kato Iron Works Col, Ltd. , Div. of Instrumentation, Kyoto, Japan. KES FB4 (Kawabata Surface Tester) is manufactured by the Kato Tekko Co. , Ltd. , Div. of Instrumentation, Kyoto, Japan Suitable materials for the skin contact layer, include textiles, more preferably: Fabrics, such as: -knitted or woven towelling materials (such as cotton towelling) -felts -knitted fabrics with some appreciable thickness, using softer yarns (such as cashmere, angora, highly carded wools or cotton) -synthetic or natural fur -flocked fabrics -looped fabrics (such as tine carpeting) -materials composed from rag strips or fragments, woven or looped -soft foams (such as polyurethane foams) Preferably, the skin contact layer includes at least 1% of a synthetic or natural elastomeric, elastic or rubber material, to provide a stretch and contract feature, to facilitate application to the handle or handhold and/or some retention force (more preferably at least 5%).

Where the cover is applied to a notionally tubular or rod-like handle or handhold (Figures I, 2 and 4), the skin contact layer 2 may be attached around the base layer I in its tubular form as described above.

To effect the skin abrasion protection (Figures 1, 2 and 4), this component of the device 2 will itself also be partly or wholly tubular, such as a knitted open tubular structure, preferably with one end closed, to prevent it moving down the handle or handhold, in use, and may be attached by simply stretching slightly and sliding the component 2 over the base layer I and then, if necessary, fastened in place by an appropriate means 12 (Figures 1, 2,4 and 5).

It is also anticipated that the cover may be applied to a tubular or rod-like handle or handhold fixed at an angle, such as 90 degrees to other fixtures (Figures I, 2, 3 and 5), and that either or both components of the cover may have portions 13 extending significantly beyond the skin contact parts of the handle, specifically to facilitate affixing around the other fixtures and prevent the cover from moving far from its designated position in use It is further anticipated (Figure II) that the base layer I may be enclosed between layers of the skin contact layer 2 -such that the latter forms the contact layers both with the skin of the user and with the article. This could be effected (Figure II), for example, by forming the skin contact layer from a sock-within-a-sock' structure, enclosing a tubular base layer between the layers of the two socks' and placing the inside of the inner sock over a handle or handhold on an article to be used.

The method of attachment 13 (Figures 1, 4, 5 and 6), including the case where there the cover extends beyond the skin contact parts of the handle or handhold so as to affix around other components of the device, could be, but is not limited to.

-hook and eye systems (such as hook and loop, buttons, buckles, locking pins and split rings) -adhesion (such as gluing and adhesive tape) -fasteners (such as press fasteners, clips, buttons, screws, bolts, nails and staples) -zipping (such as zips and zip-lock fasteners) -tying (such as (shoe-type lacing, stitching, tie strips, ribbons, strings, ropes, strapping, packing strap, metal or plastic/metal composite ties, plastic locking ties and cable-ties) Where the device is applied to a non-tubular handle or handhold -such as a plastic elbow clip on a metal tubular crutch or saw handles, the skin contact layer would be shaped to attach around the base layer which in turn would be shaped to attach around the non-tubular part of the handle or handhold.

The two layers may be combined prior to attachment to the device and then, if necessary, fastened in place by an appropriate means.

ii a preferred embodiment, the base layer I is constructed using tubing of neoprene foam rubber, internal diameter 33mm, external diameter 39mm and length 109mm The skin contact layer 2 is fabricated from a towelling sheet of deep-pile cotton, or terrylene, loop, set in an elastane weave (1% elastane). This sheet is stitched into a tube, length 109mm and internal diameter 32mm. Into the open end of the tube is sewn a circle of the same material, diameter 32mm, to produce an enclosed sock-like construction. At the other end of the material tube, two opposing portions are pre-manufactured as extensions 13, to create an overlapping wide belt fixing around and behind the crutch handle or handhold. These extended portions are secured 12 using overlapping hook and loop pads sewn in place.

This entire construct is tightly fit onto the handle or hand hold 3 of a Tyco (RTM) Forearm Crutch from JMC Healthcare (RTM) and produced a protected handle or handhold which, in use, mitigates blistering, callusing or abrasion of the hand and is comfortable in use with regard to the effects of pressure and impact.

The underlying rigid material of the Tyco (RTM) handle or hand hold is of a hard but rubberised elastomer, which effected a grip effect to the foam rubber.

It is also possible to apply this construct to the more profiled handle or handhold 3 of the Sunrise Medical (RIM) Forearm Crutch from Cooper Health (RTM), but due to the lower friction surface of the plastic handle or handhold, it is necessary to apply, on the surface of the handle or handhold 9, a solid rubber tube of approximately 32mm internal diameter and approximately 33mm outer diameter, over the hand hold, before applying the construct of towelling tube containing neoprene foani rubber tube Definitions The terms skin contact' and skin pressure' include the case where there is a layer of clothing between the skin and the covering device.

The term hold' may be taken to include all structures where the hand partially or fully holds onto or grips the structure.

The term handle' may further be taken to include any hand hold' or handgrip'.

The terms folded' and fold-around', with regard to the application of one of the base layer and the skin contact layer to a handle or handhold, are directed to a substantially rectangular, planar element being folded around a handle or handhold about one the rectangle's centre-lines, rather than a ribbon-like element wrapped around a handle or handhold.

The term tubular', or tube' refer to a cylindrical element.

Where limitations are placed on the properties of layers of the device, for example the terms ihickness or depth' or references to absolute compressibility, these are intended to relate to the properties of a single layer. as considered around the circumference of the handle or handhold, and not related to a whole cylindrical element, formed of a curved base layer or skin contact layer, such as across the diameter of such an element.

It is intended that any combination of the features described herein may be used to define the claims.

Further embodiments are set out in the claims.